An advocacy group for Hispanic students has raised concerns with the Allentown School District over alleged "disproportionalities" between Latinos and Caucasians within the district.

The National Hispanic Council of School Board Members has asked the district for data and requested meetings with school officials in response to concerns they have received from several city individuals and organizations.

Basilio Bonilla, the group's northeast regional director, said many of those concerns stem from the resignations of multiple minority administrators since last year, as well as ongoing termination proceedings against the district's alternative education director.

Bonilla said he has also received several reports about minority children being "targeted" by children and receiving stricter disciplinary measures than white students.

"I've not before received complaints like this to the number that I have for the Allentown School District in terms of not treating students fairly and disproportionality in staff," he said.

"Dr. Mayo receives hundreds of correspondence every week and it is not our practice to address any of them in a public forum," Benner said.

Bonilla has asked to meet with Mayo to discuss the allegations, as well as for information about various district offerings, like programs for economically disadvantaged students and cultural competency training for teachers.

So far, Mayo has not responded to two separate inquiries, according to Bonilla, who is also a member of the Bethlehem Area School Board.

The National Hispanic Council of School Board Members is associated with the National School Boards Association. Phone messages to that organization were not returned.

The council does not have the ability to impose sanctions against the district if it identifies misconduct, but Bonilla said they could report their findings to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The council could also provide a list of suggestions for how the district could improve its practices, he said, or publicly state that they did not discover any problems as a result of their review.

Bonilla said some of the concerns have come from district parents, current and former staff members, and one former school board member.